Fluid-translating device



H. F. SCHMIDT FLUID TRANSLA'IING DEVICE Filed April 12. 1921 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrrce.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT, OF SYVARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-TRANfiLATING DEVICE.

Application filed Apri1 12, 1921. Serial No. 460,852.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, HENRY F. SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fluid- Translating Devices, 01"? which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ejecting apparatus and more particularly to apparatus employed for removing non-.condensable gases or vapors from condensers or similar apparatus. It has for an object the provision of an ejecting apparatus, including a number of stages or ejectors operating in series,

in which means are employed for condensing the motive fluid delivered to each stage of the apparatus so that subsequent stages compress only non-condensable gases or vapors delivered from previous stages, and in which means are employed" for proportioning the amount of work imposed upon each stage of the apparatus so that each stage does a definite proportion of the work of compression under all conditions. It has for a further object the provisions of a multi-s'tage ejecting apparatus in which improved means are employedv for heating a liquid, such for example, as feed water.

These and other objects I attain by means of apparatus embodying features herein de-. scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a diagrammatic sectional view of a multi-stage ejecting device embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus illustrated includes ejectors 1.0, 11, 12, of any suitable type, discharging respectively, into inter-coolers, or contact condensers, 13, 14:, 15. Each of the ejector-s receives motive fluid, such as steam, from any suitable source through a pipe 16 and discharges it through a nozzle 17 into and through an entraining chamber 18 and into a diffuser 19. The out. let of each of the diffusers 19 of the ejectors 1.0, 11, 12 is shown connected to a pipe 21 which extends into and terminates below the surface of the water contained within the associated inter-coolers, suitable slots or perforations 22 being provided in the pipes 21 .to secure an even distribution of the fluid and a noiseless condensation of the steam,

The inter-cooler 13 normally receives water from a hot well discharge pump 25, through a pipe 26 which is provided with a check or non-return valve 27. The intercooler 13 isalso provided with an overflow pipe 28 which communicates with the lower portion of the second stage inter-cooler'le, Water niay also be delivered to the intercooler 13 through a delivery pipe 80 which communicates with any source of cold water supply, as for example an elevated tank 31, and is adapted to be employed only when the supplyot' water through the pipe 26 is insufficient. The pipe 30 is provided with a check valve 32 which is dependent in its operation upon the operation of the check valve 27, the two valves being so arranged that valve 32 will open as the valve 27 closes, and,.vice versa, will close as the valve 27 opens, so that the amount of water delivered to the inter-cooler l3 will'be maintained constant, irrespective of variations of flow through the pipe 26. Any suitable connection between the valves 27 andy32.

may be employed. Asshown, levers 33, 34 operatively secured to the valves 27 and 32 respectively, are connected by a rod 35. I y

The entraining chamberof the ejector l0 communicates through a port 37 with a condenser, or with a receptacle from which non-condensable gases or vapors are to be removed. The upper portion of the intercooler 13 communicates with the entraining chamber of the second stage ejector 11 through a ,pip'e 38.v The diffuser outlet of the second stage ejector 11 communicates through a pipe 21 with the inter-cooler 14, the outlet end of the pipe 21 being submerged in the water contained withm the inter-cooler 14, as above described. The inter-cooler 14, like the inter-cooler 13 is provided with an-over-fiow pipe 39 which communicates with the lower portion of the third stage inter-cooler .15, and. also with a non-condensable discharge pipe 410 through which the gases are led from the upper portion of the inter-cooler 141 to the third stage ejector 12. The third stage ejector 12 discharges into the lower portion of the intercooler 15, the non-condensable portions collecting in the upper-part of the inter-cooler whence they aredischarged through a relief valve 41 to the atmosphere. Anoverfiow' pipe 42 serves to carry away the excess 7 water from the inter-cooler 15 to a suitable storage receptacle;

ratio of work done by "each ejector constant.

Let it be assumed, for 'the ip'urposes ot illustration, that the ejectors 10,11and l2 areaeach designed to effect a compression of the non-condensable gases of "5 pounds per square inch absolute. With the pressure within the inter-cooler 15 maintainedat "15 poundspe'r-square inch absolute, the intercoolers -13,*1l, 15 would need be so located that the height 'of'the "water level in the inter-cooler '14 is approximately feet above thatin'theinter-cooler 1'5,'and the water'level in the inter-cooler 13 approxiniately-lO feet/abovethat in chamber 14, all in order to secure a'pressure difference 0E5 pounds between thea'dj'acent inter coolers. Non condensable. gases are evacuated from the condenser through'the inlet 37-and are discharged withthe motive steam by the ejector 10 throughthe pipe2l intothe bo-ttom of the-"inter-cooler 13. The steam issuing through the pipe21' is condensed upon cominginto contact withthe'water, thereby heatingthewater, for example, to 120 degrees Fah'n, assumingthe entrance temperature of the water tobe about .80 degrees Fahn, while the non-condensable gases are collected'in the upper portion of the intercooler 13. The pressure in theupper porti on of the inter-cooler may be considered to be due'to tw'ofa ctors, the vaportension of the water "corresp ending to its temperature and'thepressure of the air. Under these circumstances, the "lowest absolute/i pressure capable of being maintained in the interc'0olerf1'3 above the water would be limited by the vapor tension of the water at a temperature of 120 degrees, or would be approxin'iately pounds'per square inch obsolute. T he second stage ejector'll receives the non-condensable gases from the inter- V cooler13 and is so designed that it is capable ofincrea'sing the pressure of-the 'gases by 5 1 pounds, or compressing the fluidto 10 pounds absolute pressure, the pressure normally maintained above the water in the inter-cooler 1 4C. The steam and non-condensecond stage ejector'll,,arevdelivered to the 1 second'stage inter-cooler 14. The steam is condensed in passingthrough the waterin the interecooler- 14 and heats the water 'to approximately 160 degrees Fahr. The noncondensable gases collecting above the water are with'drawn by the" third stage ejector 12 and discharged, together with the motive steam, into the: inter-cooler '15. The steam from ejector 12 is condensedupon-contact ing with the water in inter-cooler Ll and heats the water to about 200 degreesFahr. The non-'c'ondensable gases collecting above the water are discharged to the atmosphere through a relief valve set for a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch absolute in the pr sent example, orfo'r any pressure which corresponding-tothehead of'water existing between the level of water in'the-inter-coole'r 14 and withinthe 1nter-cooler13, sinceas soon as a lower pressure is attained in the inter-cooler 13, water from theinter-cooler 14 is torcedupwardlythrough pipe 28 into the inter-cooler'13 andsince its temperature, approximately 1160 degrees Fain- 'is much higher thanthat in the inter-cooler 13, the vapor tension will "be increased and vapor will be given off within the inter-cooler l3, which'will be delivered with the non-condensable gases to the second'stage ejector ll This'will ause the capacity of theejector ll to be exceeded with a resultant buildingup of the pressurewithin the in'ter 'coolerl3 until normal pressure conditionsare reestablished. Pressure conditions will 'bemaintained in a similar 'wayibetween the intercoolers 14: and :15,- the'temperature otthe water within the inter-cooler 15, in the case assumed for "illustration, being approximately QOO degrees Fa'hr. It *will thusbe seen that Water at. a's'uitable' temperature for feeding directly to boiler is obtained by the e'mploymentof my improved multi-stage ejector 'and'that at the sametime a simpleand reliable means for definitely proportioning the work of compression among the several ejectors of the apparatus is provided.

It will be understood thatthe conditions 01'? operation describedabove inconnectiou with the apparatus illustrated arcn'ierely for purposes of'illustration, and that the work of compression'may be'proportioned among the several eje'ctors as may be desired.

It is further'apparent that'any number of e-je'ctors may be employed and that the work of compressing the'fiuid to be ejected from the condenser may be divided among the ejectors in the'most cflicientimanner.

While I have's'ho'wn my invention in but one'i'orm, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is'not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modi fications, without departing from the. spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, thatonly such limitations shall be placed thereupon loo as are imposed by the prior art or as are. specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an ejecting apparatus, a plurality of ejectors operating in series, and means for definitely proportioning the work of compression among the ejectors.

2. In an ejecting apparatus, a plurality of ejectors operating in series, means associated with each ejector for condensing the motive fluid issuing from each ejector, and means for definitely proportioning the work of compression between the ejectors.

3. In combination ina multi-stage ejector, a plurality of ejectors operating in series,

inter-coolers interposed between adjacent ejectors of the series, the inter-coolers being so connected and disposed with relation to each other that the work of compression is definitely proportioned among the several ejectors.

i. In combination in a multi-stage ejector, a plurality of ejectors operating in series, inter-coolers interposed between adjacent ejectors oi the series, the inter-coolers being located at different levels, whereby predetermined pressure differences are maintained in the several inter-coolers and the work or compression is definitely proportioned among the several ejectors.

5. In combination in a multi-stage ejector, a plurality of ejectors operating in series, inter-coolers interposed between adjacent ejectors of the series, connections between adjacent inter-coolers for discharging excess liquid from each'inter-cooler to an inter-cooler next in series, the inter-coolers being disposed at successively lower levels, whereby the Work of compression is definitely proportioned among the several ejectors. r

6. In combination in a multi-stage ejector, an ejector the inlet of which communicates with a source of fluid to be ejected, an inter-cooler communicating with'the discharge of said ejector,a second ejector communicating with the inter-cooler, a second inter-cooler communicating with the discharge of said second ejector, and connection between the inter-coolers for delivering excess liquid from the first to the second condensers, except the final one, to the entraining chamber of the ejector next in series, conduits forming communication between the. water containing portions of the ad acent contact condensers, sald condensers ejectors havlngkan entraining chamber, a

contact condenser'for each ejector, adapted to be partially filled with water and into which an ejector discharges, means for supplying fluid to be compressed to the entraming chamber of the ifirst of said {series of ejectors, means for conveying. non-condensable gases from each of thecontact condensers, except the final one, to the entraining chamber of the ejector next in series,

and means associated with the condenser" for proportioning the Work of compression between the several ejectors.

9. In an ejecting apparatus, a series of ejectors having an entraining chamber, a contact condenser for each ejector adapted to be partially filled with water and into which an ejector discharges, means for supplying fluid to be compressed to the entraining chamber of the first of said series of ejectors, means for conveying non-condensable gases from eachoif the contact condensers, except the, final one, to the entraining chamber of the ejector next in series, said condensers being disposed at successively lower levels, and means associated with the condensers for proportioning the work of compression between the several ejectors.

10. In an ejecting apparatus, a series of ejectors having an entraining chamber, a contact condenser for each ejector adapted to be partially filled with water and into which an ejector discharges, means for supplying fluid to be compressed to the entraining chamber of the first of said series of ejectors, means for conveying non-condensable gases from each of the contact condensers, except the final one, to the entrain- 7 ing chamber or the ejector next in series, said condensers being disposed at successively lower levels, conduits forming communication between the water containing portions of the adjacent contact condensers, and so arranged as to utilize the hydrostatic head between the condensers to proportion the work of compression between the several condensers. V r

11 In an ejecting apparatus, a plurality of e ectors operatingin series, a contact 'condenser associated with each ejector and adapted to contain a body of water, means for discharging the fluids from each ejector into its associated condenser, means for withdrawing the non-condensable gases from each condenser into the ejector next in thesaid-series and for discharging the said .gases from 13116 .jcondenser vassociated withthe last of saidseries of-ejectors, conduits extending "from .the Water level of each condenser to uthe bottom of the condenser next ID'SBINS, saidcondensers being idisposedat SUCCBSSIVGlY'lOWBI' levels, Whereby the Work of compression is definitely proportioned among the :sevenal ej ectors.

12. 111 anejectinglapparatus, a plurality of 'ej eotors. operating in series, a contact. con denser :for :each ejector into which :the latter discharges, aineans "for supplying "fluid at :a subatmospheric ipressure to the first of said-series of ejectors, means for-conveying non-condenszible (gases ifroin 'each contact condensergexcept theifinal: one,uto;the egector next in series, meansfor 'niaintainingpi'edetermined successively higher pressures in I the condensers, the pressure in the final condenser-being'substantially atmospheric pressure, and =n1eans :for discharging non-con densable gases and Water froznztheifinal condenser, whereby the Workof compression is definitely proportioned among the several ejectors.

In testimony whereof, I -.hav:e hereunto subscribed my-name this "1st day'of April,

' HENRY F. soHMinr 

